Chapter 19: The Big Sister Contract
We decided to tell Chloe that evening after dinner.
We sat her down on the living room sofa. Evelyn and I sat on the coffee table facing her. The serious setup made Chloe nervous for exactly two seconds before she saw the massive, uncontrollable smiles on our faces.
"What is it?" Chloe asked, looking between us.
Evelyn reached out and took Chloe’s hands. "Do you remember when you told us we should paint the spare room green?"
Chloe’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. She gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth. "No way. No way!"
"You're going to be a big sister, kiddo," I laughed, my chest tight with overwhelming love.
Chloe shrieked—a sound of pure, unadulterated joy that echoed off the walls. She threw herself at Evelyn, hugging her fiercely, then tackled me into a massive bear hug.
"I have to get ready!" Chloe announced, pulling back. "I have to make a list. I need to write a contract."
"A contract?" Evelyn asked, amused.
"Yes!" Chloe said, already running toward her backpack to grab a notebook. "A Big Sister Contract. I have to officially pledge to protect them from monsters under the bed, teach them how to sneak cookies before dinner, and show them how to manipulate Dad into letting us stay up late."
I laughed out loud. "Hey, I heard that!"
May you like
Chloe just grinned, clicking her pen. As she sat cross-legged on the rug, furiously drafting her "contract," Evelyn leaned her head on my shoulder.
There were no shadows in this room. Just the bright, blinding light of a future we had chosen.
